EcoSystems Flashcards
Photosynthesis
The food-making process in plants that takes place in chloroplasts within cells. The process uses carbon dioxide, water and energy from the sun.
Producers/autotrophs
Organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms; also known as an autotroph
Chemical reaction for photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide + water -light and chlorophyll > glucose + oxygen
Chemical reaction for photosynthesis in chemical symbols
6CO2 + 6H2O - light and chlorophyll > C6H12O6 + 6O2
Process of photosynthesis
Chloroplasts contains Grana contains Chlorophyll absorbs Light energy used to make Glucose
Cellular respiration
The chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP. The body is able to use the energy contained in ATP.
What does ATP stand for?
Adenosine Tri Phosphate
Aerobic respiration
The chemical breakdown of food using oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in all body cells and releases energy.
Glycolysis
Process by which glucose is converted into a simple form, during which energy is released.
Cytosol
The fluid found inside cells
Krebs cycle
Part of the aerobic respiration process in which carbon dioxide and ATP (energy) are produced.
Electron transport chain reactions
Part of the aerobic process.
Mitochondria
Small rod-shaped organelles that supply energy to other parts of the cell. They are usually too small to be seen with light microscopes.
Anaerobic respiration
The chemical breakdown of food without oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in cells and releases less energy than aerobic respiration.
Lactic acid
An end product of anaerobic respiration in animals; also known as lactate
Ethanol
An end product of anaerobic respiration in plants; a form of alcohol.
Obligate anaerobes
Organisms that can respire only anaerobically in the absence of oxygen.
Organism
Living thing
Species
A group of living organisms capable of interbreeding with each other but not with members of other species.
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at a particular time.
Community
More than one population living in the same area at a particular time.
Ecosystem
Communities of organisms that interact with each other and their environment.
Ecology
The study of ecosystems
Producers/autotroph
Organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms
Decomposers
Organisms that break down organic matter into inorganic materials.
Consumers/heterotroph
Organisms that relies on other organisms for its food
Primary consumers/first-order consumer
The first consumer in a food chain (in the second trophic level).
Herbivores
Animal that eats only plants
Carnivores
An animals that eats other animals
Omnivores
Animal that eats plants and other animals
Decomposers/Detrivores
Animal that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter.
Ecological niche
The position of a species or population in its ecosystem in relation to each other.
Competition
The struggle among organisms for food, territory, and other factors.
Parasitism
An interaction in which one species (parasite) lives in or on another species from which it obtains food, shelter, and other requirements.
Mutualism
Relationship between two different organisms in which both benefit.
Commensalism
Relationship between organisms where one benefits and the other is unaffected.
Interspecific competition
Competition between organisms of the same species.
Intraspecific competition
Competition between organisms of different species.
Predator-prey relationship
Relationship between organisms in which one species kills and eats another species.
Symbiotic relationships
Very close relationship between two organisms of different species. It may benefit or harm one of the partners.
What is the difference between a decomposer and a detrivore?
A decomposer comes in the form of fungi or bacteria, whereas a detrivore can come in other forms like a worm, and they consume the waste of organisms
Chemosynthetic
Describes organisms that produce organic material using energy released from chemical reactions rather than light.
Food chains
Diagram that shows how the energy stored in one organism is passed to another.
Food webs
Diagram showing several food chains joined together to demonstrate that animals eat more than one type of food.
Trophic level
A level within a food chain, food web, or food pyramid.
Secondary consumer/second-order consumer
The second consumer in a food chain (in the third trophic level).
Energy pyramid
A representation of the level of food energy at each level within a food chain.
Pyramid of numbers
A representation of the population, or numbers of organisms, at each level within a food chain.
Pyramid of biomass
A representation of the dry mass of organisms at each level within a food chain.
Birth rate
The number of organisms within a population that are born within a particular period of time.
Death rate
The number of organisms within a population that die within a particular period of time.
Immigration
The number of individuals moving into an area.
Emigration
The number of individuals leaving an area.
Exponential growth
A rapid increase in number or size, represented by a J-shaped graph.
Sigmoid
The shape of a graph that shows a population increasing in number then reaching a plateau.
Equilibrium
A state in which conditions are balanced and there is neither growth nor a decrease in number; also known as a steady state or plateau phase.
Zero population growth
The point at which birth and death rates balance each other out.
Carrying capacity
The maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain.
Predation
An interaction between animal species where one animal kills and eats the other
